jay@umd5.UUCP (08/12/85)
Well they tried to take our group away and that got everyone excited. It's good to see traffic in this group again and I thought I might stir up some more by posing a question about what is probably the most common annoyance to those of us with backyard feeders; how do I keep the squirrels from my feeder? I tried the trick recommended in the instructions for assembling my latest feeder. It suggested using fishing line to hang the feeder and placing a an album between the suspended line and the top of the feeder. So, what did that do? The squirrels gnawed away at the top of the fishing line and crash went the feeder. So I hung it up once again and covered the part of the fishing line that hangs from the branch with duct tape (I know, it sounds weird). This worked for one day. Once the squirrels figured out that duct tape is not a menace, they climbed down the fishing wire past the record album and ate two huge chunks out of the side of the (cheap) plastic feeder. Short, of recommending that I buy a gun (I suppose survival knives are now more in vogue), I am interested in hearing from other bird-feeding compatriots who have managed to stave off similar competition at their feeders. I suppose I'm just as interested in hearing about failure, too, since then I'll know what not to try. P.S. Please don't suggest wiring the feeder to the house current. -- Jay Elvove ..!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!umd5!jay c/o Systems, Computer Science Center, U. of MD.
nemo@rochester.UUCP (Wolfe) (08/13/85)
> how do I keep the squirrels from my feeder? > Jay Elvove ..!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!umd5!jay Squirrels are gold-medal caliber gymnasts, as I'm sure you know. I have never had consistent success with any of the techniques that make it hard for the squirrel to get to the (otherwise unprotected) feeder. It just takes them a little longer and is more amusing to watch (if you can see the humor in it). However, there is a variety of feeder that friends have told me works without fail. It is made of steel (tough on those little squirrel teeth) and glass (ditto), with wood in non-critical places (like the perch so the little birdies don't stick to the feeder when it's 10 below). The main idea is that the perch is attached to a metal shield that can cover the food tray. Ordinarily springs hold the perch and shield up so birds can feed, but if something as heavy as a squirrel tries sitting on the perch (and it is designed so that there is really no other way to get at the chickadee chow), the shield drops with the laden perch, covering the tray. Squirrels give up pretty soon. I don't recall the name of the feeder's maker, but I have seen them advertised and at markets for about $20 or so. The steel is stainless, so they should last practically forever. Nemo -- Internet: nemo@rochester.arpa UUCP: {decvax, allegra, seismo, cmcl2}!rochester!nemo Phone: [USA] (716) 275-5766 work, 232-4690 home USMail: 104 Tremont Circle; Rochester, NY 14608 School: Department of Computer Science; University of Rochester; Rochester, NY 14627
jtkrist@ihnss.UUCP (J. T. Krist) (08/14/85)
<squeak, squeak, squeak>
My next door neighbor (a retired Western Electric Engineer)
uses a battery and spark coil attached to the feeder. When
ever he sees a squirrel on the feeder, he'll give it a zap.
Claims that they learn pretty fast. But then, this is a guy
who has a radio controlled model Canada Goose that he takes
to the local pond, and gets kids to throw bread at.
Since I can't stay home all day, I've gone through a number
of feeders (and especially a lot of suet). It's amazing to see
the way that squirrels can leap from trees, bird baths, phone wires,
the side of the house, etc. to land on a feeder. So the first
problem is to hang the feeder where the squirrel can't just
jump onto it. I have mine hung on the overhang of my house
in front of a large sliding glass door. Too close to the
edge of the door though, and the rascals will climb up the bricks
of the house and jump over. They haven't yet figured out to
get suction cups to climb up the glass. To hang the feeders,
I use heavy, plastic coated wire. I guess they could knaw through
that, if they really wanted to, but maybe there's easier food to
come by where I live. Finally, I bought some heavy plastic
"squirrel guards" from the local hardware store. These are roughly
18" hemispheres of about 3/16" plastic. These are hung low enough
so that the squirrels can't reach them while hanging from the roof
of the house. Their size, shape, and slipperyness seems to keep the
squirrels from being able to hang on and knaw they way through.
I've used this solution for about two years and haven't had a problem
with squirrels since. I have a large Droll Yankee sunflower feeder,
a Droll Yankee thislte feeder, and a mesh bag of suet, installed
as described. We get juncoes, chickadees, cardinals, downy woodpeckers,
and occassionally a pine siskin, and crossbill along with the resident
{english sparrow|house sparrow|weaver finch}es.
--
Jim Krist
...!ihnp4!{ihnss!ihesa}!jtkrist
AT&T Bell Laboratories
Room IH 6C-541
Naperville, IL 60566
(312)-979-4847res@ihlpl.UUCP (Rich Strebendt @ AT&T Information Systems - Indian Hill West; formerly) (08/16/85)
> how do I keep the squirrels from my feeder? I mount my feeder at the top of a piece of black iron pipe (about one inch diameter (OD) and use a cone of metal on the pipe about a foot and a half from the feeder. This has proven VERY effective! Sketch follows: __________ |__________| | | <-- feeder |________| || || || / \ <-- cone of sheet metal /____\ || || || <-- pipe ~5 feet above ground ~~ ~~ || ___||___ |||| <-- pipe set into ~1" ID plastic |||| pipe in ground (~2' deep) |__| Rich Strebendt ...!ihnp4!iwsl6!res